It took another extra-inning affair, but the Giants just barely managed to salvage a game against the Phillies. Denard Span hit a leadoff home run in the 10th inning to give the Giants just their second road win in 11 tries. Matt Moore fared well enough in his Giants debut despite the no-decision. More on that below, along with the other particulars of the Giants’ 3-2 win on Thursday afternoon in Philadelphia.
The big moment
Span was the catalyst all day for the Giants, but none of his three hits were bigger than his extra-inning blast. He tucked a 95 MPH fastball just inside the right field foul pole and the Giants staked themselves to a 3-2 lead. The home run rounded out a 3-for-4 day for Span, who was riding hot off another three-hit game on Wednesday.
At the plate
For the second game in a row, the Giants scored in the first inning after Denard Span and Angel Pagan reached to start the game. Span reached base three times in Wednesday’s 12-inning loss and did so again on Thursday. He scored on an RBI single from Brandon Craawford that gave the Giants a 1-0 lead.
The same leadoff duo also began the eighth inning by reaching base, but this rally proved less fruitful. Hunter Pence, Crawford and Brandon Belt all recorded outs, including an inning-ending diving catch in center to preserve the tie.
The Giants momentarily regained the lead in the fifth inning when Joe Panik led off the frame with a single. It was brief flash of optimism for the slumping second baseman, collecting just his third hit in 25 at-bats since coming off the DL. Span scored Panik from third on a sac fly.
Philadelphia’s bullpen stymied the Giants’ bats for four more innings Thursday before Span broke out for a home run.
On the mound
Moore battled his command for six innings, issuing six walks but neutralizing almost every threat with one of his seven strikeouts. He hummed his fastball around 94-95 mph and snapped his curveball in for a handful of called strikeouts. Given that brief overlook, it’s no surprise the Giants liked what they were getting in a trade for Moore. He ends up with a no decision in his debut and a decent outing against a tight strike zone.
It just took him a few batters to settle in. Cesar Hernandez walked to begin the first inning, and Aaron Alther immediately doubled him home to tie the game. Moore issued his second walk of the inning to Tommy Joseph before retiring the next eight hitters. Jospeh, the former Giant prospect traded for Hunter Pence in 2012, walked three times against Moore.
He leadoff the sixth inning with another free pass and began what turned out to be an annoying inning for the Giants new left-hander. The Phillies loaded the bases with a walk, infield single and blooper to left field that Crawford lost in the sun. They tied the game when Freddy Galvis beat out a slick double play attempt between Panik and Crawford.
They didn’t score again off Moore, who worked through the jam and left the game after six innings and 108 pitches.
In the ‘pen
Hunter Strickland was available on Thursday after manager Bruce Bochy purposely stayed away from him the day before. It took 24 pitches, but he worked through the seventh inning of a 2-2 game. Derek Law did his thing in the eighth: 10 pitches, three outs.
The ninth inning began with Will Smith, who pitched in all three games this series. He induced a pair of outs before Hernandez reached with a two-out single that trickled off Crawford’s glove on the lip of the left field grass. Sergio Romo got the final out of the ninth, and Santiago Casilla secured his 25th save of the season.
On deck
Unfortunately the Nationals changed their rotation to deprive us of a duel between Stephen Strasburgh and Madison Bumgarner on Sunday. Everybody in the Washington rotation moved up a day, meaning Jeff Samardzija (9-7, 4.30 ERA) will square off with Gio Gonzlaez (6-9, 4.29 ERA) on Friday. Gonzalez allowed only a run over six innings against the Giants last Sunday. First pitch at 4:05 p.m. on KNBR 680.